Accordion type folding door



R. H. ENSIGN ETAL 2,860,697

ACCORDION TYPE FOLDING DOOR Nov, 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1954 my ma N 1 WM 1 m w M Fu fl b m a f M 1958 R. H. ENSIGN ET AL 2,860,697

ACCORDION TYPE FOLDING DOOR Filed Dec. 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. H. ENSIGN ETAL 2,860,697

ACCORDION TYPE FOLDING DOOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS' Nov. 18, 1958 Filed Dec. 2, 1954 Nov. 18, 1958 R. H. ENSlGN ETAL ACCORDION TYPE FOLDING DOOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 2, 1954 United States PatentOtlice 2,860,697 Patented Nov. 18, 1958 ACCORDION TYPE FOLDING DOOR Robert H. Ensign, Bronxville, N. Y., and Danforth Cardozo, Jr., Weston, Conn., assignors to The Hough Shade Corporation, a corporation of Connecticut Application December 2, 1954, Serial No. 472,614

6 Claims. (Cl. 160-84) This invention relates to an accordion type folding door used for closing wall openings, and the principal object .of the invention is to provide an improved door of this type having simpler mechanism, lower cost, and more versatility than accordion type doors heretofore produced.

In some types of accordion doors, relatively heavy mechanism is required for properly supporting the door cover, which usually is a heavy fabric or sheeting that is at least semi-pliable. The supporting mechanism must support the material throughout most of its height and length because of its pliable nature; and, in addition, the supporting mechanism must cause the material to fold appropriately as the door is moved to its open position. This has resulted in the supporting mechanism being relatively heavy, bulky, and costly; and it is one of the principal objects of this invention to simplify the supporting mechanism and the door cover itself so that weight and cost may be reduced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door covering which adapts itself to convenient storage, and which may be readily applied to an removed from the supporting mechanism of the door. This flexibility of applying and removing the door covering from the supporting mechanism makes it possible for the manufacturer to reduce his stock of supporting mechanisms, and permits the user to change the door covering as occasion demands.

. Although the accordion door of this invention is of the full accordion type in that a door covering is provided on both sides of the supporting mechanism to thereby obscure the supporting mechanism, it is also possible to use the door with a cover on only one side of the mechanism in installations where exposure of the supporting mechanism to view is of no importance. This is another illustration of the versatility of the accordion door of this invention.

Some of the simplification in the supporting mechanism is due to the nature of the door covering itself, which, in the preferred form of the invention, consists of rigid or semi-rigid vertical slats which are joined together by a flexible covering of fabric, or similar sheet material, with the fabric or sheet material forming the hinge joints between the pleats of the accordion door. Hence, a further object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the door covering itself and its application to the supporting mechanism. 1 Further and other objects and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view showing our accordion door in closed position within a door opening;

sectional view through our door, the view being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and with most of the overhead track being broken away to reveal the structure beneath; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing how the doorcovering may be readily folded together for stor- 21 of the door frame, and the upper and lower pantoage when disassociated from the folding mechanism of the door;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but with th door covering removed from the front side of the door to expose the supporting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view showing an intermediate hanger for supporting the door from the overhead track;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but shows the manner in which the door covering is supported from other points of ,the pantograph supporting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view through the support pin, the section being taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View showing a preferred form of door covering comprising a fabric or similar sheeting backed by semi-rigid vertical slats and hinge strips;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view which illustrates how a backing may be added to the door covering if desired; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the line 11-11 of Fig. 7.

In the specific description which follows, it should be understood that the invention may be variously embodied within the scope of the appended claims and that the description of a preferred form of the invention is merely by way of illustrating the manner in which this invention may be embodied in an accordion door.

The accordion door may be mounted in any suitable wall or door opening. In Figs. 1 and 4, the door opening is shown as bounded by side posts 20 and 21, a floor 22, and a lintel 23. The accordion door, generally designated 24, is firmly secured as by screws 25 to side posts 21, so that the door is opened by collapsing it to the right in Figs. 1 and 4.

The supporting mechanism for the door comprises an overhead track generally designated 26, an upper pantograph 27, a lower pantograph 28, and door posts 29 and 30. The door post 29 is rigidly secured to the side post graphs 27 and 28 extend between the two door posts 29 and 30. p The pantographs 27 and 28 are of similar construction, and are of the lazy tongs type, consisting of pantographmembers 31 connected together by center hinge pins 32' and top and bottom pins 33 and 34. The top pin 33 associated with the door post 29 has a fixed position relative to the post 29, but the bottom pin 34 is permitted to travel in a slot 35 provided in the door post to flCCOIllIllO-f H date the necessary movement of this pin when the door is moved toward its open position. A similar slot 36is provided on the door post 30 for the bottom pin 34 associated with this door post.

The track 26 may be of any suitable construction, but

. is here shown as being of inverted U-shape (see Fig. 6)- with parallel runways 37 for wheels 38 of a supporting truck, generally indicated at 39. The truck 39 has d epending arms 40, which are suitably secured as by rivets 41 to opposed cover hangers or mounting brackets generally designated 42a. The cover hangers have a gen- I erally Z-shaped configuration, and each comprises a'vertical portion 43 having a plurality of barbs 44 struck outwardly therefrom, an inclined connecting portion 45, an; offset portion 46, and still another offset portion 47, whichrests against the depending portion 40 of the mer es Figs. 2(a) and 2(b), taken together, show a horizontal and is secured thereto by rivets 41. Each OflhQ'tOP pins 33, with the exception of those associated with-the posts 29 and 30, has a mounting bracket 42 included in the hinge joint, these brackets being identical in. every. way with the brackets 42a except for the omission of the ofiset portion 47.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 8, it will be seen that the two pantograph members 31, which are associated with the truck 39, as Well as the other pantograph members, are swivelled on the support pin generally designated 33, which has a center bearing portion 49 adapted to receive the ends of the pantograph members 31 with a spacer 50 interposed therebetween, flanking bearing portions 51 adapted to receive the offset portions 46 of the cover brackets 42, and grooves 52 adapted to receive spring lock Washers 53, which are open on one side as shown at 54 in Fig. so that they may be slipped downwardly over the groove 52 and be firmly held in place by a spring ear 55. Similar slotted washers 56 are adapted to fit in grooves 57, which flank the bearing surface 49 of the support pin, but the washers 56 preferably do not have the locking ears 55,'as-they are unnecessary when used in this manner as spacers. The remaining pins 33 are similar to the pin 33 illustrated in Fig. 8, and similar spacers 50 and lock washers 53 and 56 are received thereon. These pins, however, carry the hangers or brackets 42 not having portions 47 integral therewith (see Fig. 7).

A four-wheeled truck, which in general is similar in construction to the truck 39, is provided at the outer edge of the accordion door, as shown at 58 in Fig. 4.

The lower pantograph 28 is similar in all respects to the upper pantograph 27, and need not be specifically described.

In summary, it will be seen that the supporting mechanism for the accordion door merely comprises the two door posts 29 and 30, an overhead track 26, upper and lower pantographs 27 and 28, respectively, an intermediate roller truck 39 for supporting the mid-section of upper pantograph 27, and an end roller truck 58 for supporting the outer end of that pantograph. This extremely simple and light weight supporting mechanism is then adapted to receive the door covering, which is generally designated 65, and which will now be described.

The door covering 65 in the preferred form of the invention comprises a plurality of vertical slats 66, which may be formed of fiberboard, chipboard, Upson board,

or the like, and which are rigid or semi-rigid. These slats are suitably secured, as by adhesive, sewing, riveting, or any other suitable fastening, to a flexible or pliable outer covering 67, which may be a heavy fabric, such as a drapery material, a vinyl coated cotton or rayon fabric, unbacked vinyl sheeting, or any such flexible material. The slats 66 are adhered to the sheeting 67 in parallel relation, and are spaced apart a suflicient distance to permit hinge strips 68, preferably of a material similar to that used for the slats 66, to be similarly adhered to the outer covering 67, still leaving spaces 69 on both sides thereof to accommodate the fold when the cover is in its stored position, as shown in Fig. 3.

Obviously, the slats add to the acoustical properties of the outer covering 67 and give the door superior soundblocking characteristics.

The hinge strips 68 are secured to the mounting brackets 42, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 11, with a suitable adhesive, such as a mastic cement, as indicated at 70 in Fig. 11. An adhesive is also used between the hinge strip '68 and the covering 67, as indicated at 71.

The barbs 44 may be forced readily into the hinge strips 68 and serve to transfer the weight of the entire door covering to the supporting mechanism; and the adhesive 70 prevents the door covering from separating from the supporting mechanism. It will be noted that the covering 65 is supported by the upper and lower pantographs 27 and 28 at alternate hinge strips to thereby form the pleats of the accordion door.

Thehinge strips 68, which are adjacent to the door posts 29 and 30, may be secured to these posts by a suitable cement or in any other convenient way, as shown in Figs. 2(a) and 2(b).

If desired, the covering 65 may be lined at. the back with cloth, such as shown at 72 in Fig. 10, and cotton or rayon sheeting has been found satisfactory for this. purpose. It will be seen that when the door is closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the appearance of the door is very neat, inasmuch as the slats 66 and hinge strips 68 cause the door to assume an even, pleated form; and likewise, when the door is opened, the same strips maintain the uniform pleated appearance.

If it is desired to use only a covering 65 on one side of the supporting mechanism, this can be done without any difficulty whatsoever, but in most cases the covering will be used on both sides of the supporting mechanism.

The ease with which the covering 65 may be applied to the supporting mechanism and the ease with which the coverings may be stored in compact, folded position, as shown in Fig. 3, make it possible to alter the covering 65 as the rooms on one side or the other are redecorated or a new appearance for either side of the door is desired.

The door covering may in some instances comprise articulated metal or plastic strips, woven wood strips; .or any other arrangement satisfying the basic requirements of vertical stiffness combined with articulation for fold, ing; and still other modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

The door covering as thus afiorded serves, by reason of its angularly related surfaces and the fabric of its inner and outer layers, to impart desirable acoustic properties to the door. Moreover, by reason of the individual rigidity of the panels or slats 66 and 68, and their hinged interconnection with each other, andthe manner in which the hinge strips 68 are mounted on the upper and lower lazy tongs 27 and 28, the door coverings 65 have an inherent mechanical action that contributes materially to the attainment of highly advantageous operating. characteristics in the door of the present invention. Thus, as will be evident in Figs. 2a and 3 of the drawings, alternate hinge strips 68 of the two covers 65 are connected in symmetrical or opposed relation on opposite sides of the several upper pins 49 of the lazy tongs 27 and 28, and as a result, the relatively stiff intermediate strips 66 of the covers are related in the manner of a third lazy tongs means acting in a horizontal plane since such means act to maintain the door in proper relation laterally of the plane of the door, this being in contrast to the lazy tongs 27 and 28 that are located in the vertical plane of the door so as to maintain the door posts in parallel relation' and support intermediate portions of the cover for proper folding movements as the door is openedand closed.

The action of the rigid elements of the covers is such that a definite inherent stability is imparted to the door particularly in so far as the lateral position of the free edge of the door may be concerned, and as a resultof this the opening or closing forces may be applied to the door at almost any point throughout the vertical extent of the free edge thereof.

While the door of the present invention has been described and illustrated in an embodiment wherein one of the posts thereof is anchored or stationary, it will be recognized that the posts at both ends of the doors may be like the post 30 so that the entire door may be moved along the supporting guideway.

We claim: V

1. In a folding door including a pair of door posts, at least one lazy tongs extending between and connected to said posts, with the lazy tongs comprising a plurality of pairs of pivotally connected links and the ends of adjacent pairs of links being pivotally connected together by substantially horizontal support pins, mounting brackets carried by the lazy tongs and a door covering secured to the brackets, the improvement wherein the pins inelude a central bearing portion and a pair of flanking bearing portions separated from said central bearing portion by grooves, said pins including a further groove on the outer side of each flanking bearing portion, and wherein the link ends are received on said central bearing portion, locking washers are received in said first mentioned grooves, the mounting brackets are received on said flanking bearing portions, and further locking washers are received in said second mentioned grooves.

2. In a folding door including a pair of door posts, at least one lazy tongs comprising a plurality of pairs of pivotally connected links with the ends of adjacent pairs of links connected together by substantially horizontal groups of upper and lower horizontal pins and said lazy tongs being extended between said posts in the central plane of the posts and being connected at opposite ends to the respective posts by similarly located pivotal end connections corresponding in location with one of said groups of pins, and said one group of pins corresponding to said pivotal end connections constituting support pins, the improvement wherein said support pins include a central bearing portion upon which the ends of the adjacent links are received and retained, and wherein said support pins have oppositely extended flanked bearing portions each having a groove therein spaced from the end thereof, a covering for said door having mounting elements fixed thereon, said mounting elements each having an opening therein embracing said flanking bearing portion to support said cover thereon, and spring means engaging said grooves to retain the related mounting element in supporting position.

3. In an accordion type door, a pair of posts for defining the opposite vertical edges of the door, upper and lower lazy tongs disposed in a vertical plane and connecting said posts for relative approaching and separating movements, each of said lazy tongs including horizontal pivot pins certain of which on both upper and lower lazy tongs constitute support pins that move in predetermined horizontal planes during extension or retraction of the lazy tongs, a cover for said door comprising alternate wide slats and narrow pivot slats pivotally joined together by a flexible sheet adhere thereto, and upper and lower mounting members fixed to certain of said pivot slats and engageable with said support pins to support said cover on said lazy tongs, all of said slats being at least semi-rigid to give the cover resistance to bending about a horizontal axis.

4. An accordion door as set forth in claim 3 in which all of said slats are substantially planar with the wide slats and the pivot slats being of equal width, respectively, whereby the cover when in its folded state is compact with its overall horizontal extent being substantially equal to the sum of the widths of the pivot slats.

5. In an accordion type door, a pair of posts for defining the opposite vertical edges of the door, upper and lower lazy tongs disposed in a vertical plane and connecting said posts for relative approaching and separating movements, each of said lazy tongs including horizontal pivot pins certain of which on both upper and lower lazy tongs constitute support pins that move in predetermined horizontal planes during extension or retraction of the lazy tongs, covers for opposite sides of said door each comprising alternate wide slats and narrow pivot slats pivotally joined together by flexible sheets adhered thereto, and upper and lower mounting members fixed to certain of said pivot slats and engageable with said support pins to support each of said covers on said lazy tongs, all of said slats being at least semi-rigid to give each of said covers resistance to bending about a horizontal axis, said opposed covers with their interconnection with the upper and lower lazy tongs constituting a third lazy tongs acting in a horizontal plane in conjunction with said other two lazy tongs for giving the door as a whole horizontal and lateral stability.

6. The accordion door set forth in claim 3 in which the door is suspended from an overhead track by glides affixed to at least some of said support pins on the upper lazy tongs and in which said cover and said door posts constitute the only vertical stiifening members for the door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,513 Adams -2 Apr. 8, 1913 1,877,829 Erlinder Sept. 20, 1932 2,220,939 McGuire et a1 Nov. 12, 1940 2,584,111 Brenner et al. Feb. 5, 1952 2,600,670 Minium June 17, 1952 2,667,218 Collins Jan, 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 445,690 Italy Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,869,697 November 18', 1958 Robert H, Ensign et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as cor rected below.

In the grant lines 3 and 12, and in the heading to the printed specification, lines 4 and 5 name of aesignee, for "The Hough Shade Corporation" read u Hough Manufacturing Corporation column 5,, line 20, for 'flanlced" read flanking line 38, for "adhere" read M adhered a Signed and sealed this 3rd day of March 1959.

(SEAL) Attast:

A H MINE ROBERT c. wATsoN Attesting Officer Conniissioner of Patents 

